EU states say ‘situation unacceptable’ after Pfizer-BioNTech slows vaccine deliveries

Six European Union governments requested the chief EU Commission in a letter on Friday to strain Pfizer-BioNTech, “to ensure stability and transparency of timely deliveries” of vaccines agianst COVID-19.

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The letter, signed by the well being ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, mentioned Pfizer/BionTech had advised them that agreed vaccine deliveries within the coming weeks could be considerably diminished.

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“This situation is unacceptable”, mentioned the letter, which was seen by Reuters.

“Not only does it impact the planned vaccination schedules, it also decreases the credibility of the vaccination process.”

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Many European nations say they’re receiving lower-than-expected provides of COVID-19 vaccines as US pharmaceutical large Pfizer slows shipments and distribution proceeds inconsistently amongst European Union states.

Vaccines developed by Pfizer with its German associate BioNTech began being delivered within the EU on the finish of December. US biotech agency Moderna started delivering its shot this week after the bloc authorised it on Januay 6.

Yet about one-third of the 27 EU governments cited “insufficient” doses of vaccines at a video convention of well being ministers on Wednesday, an individual who attended the digital assembly advised Reuters.

They additionally complained about unsure timetables for future deliveries, the official added, with out naming any nation.

Pfizer initially mentioned deliveries had been continuing “according to the schedule agreed”. But in a while Friday it mentioned there could be a short lived impression on shipments in late January to early February attributable to modifications to manufacturing processes to spice up manufacturing.

This remark got here after Norway and Lithuania mentioned the corporate was decreasing provides in Europe.

Earlier this month, Belgium mentioned it anticipated to obtain solely round half of the deliberate doses of the Pfizer vaccine in January as a consequence of a logistical subject. Lithuania mentioned it was advised this week its provides could be halved till
mid-February.

“The manufacturer told us the cuts are EU-wide,” Lithuanian well being ministry spokesman Vytautas Beniusis advised Reuters on Friday.

Lower-than-expected quantities had been delivered to Italy at first of January, however the subject appeared now largely resolved, an Italian official mentioned.

A second EU supply advised Reuters that in one other EU inner assembly with diplomats on Wednesday, an EU Commission official mentioned deliveries could be restricted at the least till March, with manufacturing set to be ramped up in earnest solely by September.

The Commission’s prime vaccine negotiator Sandra Gallina had advised EU lawmakers in a public assembly on Tuesday she had heard solely three situations of “relatively minor” complaints about deliveries from EU governments.

A Commission spokesman declined to touch upon issues about restricted provides and unsure timetables.

Pfizer and BioNTech have two contracts with the EU for the provision of as much as 600 million doses this 12 months. They have agreed to ship 75 million doses within the second quarter and extra later within the 12 months. It is unclear what number of doses will be distributed within the first three months.

Moderna has dedicated to delivering 10 million doses by the tip of March and 35 million every within the second and third quarter. Another 80 million doses are additionally to be delivered this 12 months however with out a clear timetable but.

The vaccine makers haven’t printed detailed calendars of deliveries for every of the 27 EU nations, that are anticipated to obtain a portion of vaccines in proportion to their share of the EU’s 450 million inhabitants. Pfizer mentioned the data was confidential.

“At this stage we can only confirm that the doses will be distributed on a pro-rata basis between EU countries,” a spokesman for Moderna mentioned.

But deliveries don’t appear to be continuing evenly.

The German Health Ministry says on its web site that the nation, with a inhabitants of 83 million, will obtain practically 4 million Pfizer doses by the tip of January.

Romania, with a inhabitants 4 occasions smaller, says it expects to obtain solely 600,000 doses in the identical interval. Bulgaria, with lower than one-tenth of Germany’s inhabitants, expects to obtain solely about 60,000 Pfizer photographs in January, in proportion a lot lower than Germany.

A spokesman for the EU Commission mentioned nationwide timetables partly relied on contracts signed by every state. It just isn’t clear whether or not all EU governments ordered their full allocation of vaccines, as this data is confidential.

Non-EU Norway is having access to the vaccines obtained by the European bloc due to Sweden, an EU member that can purchase greater than it wants and promote them to Norway.

The EU has secured practically 2.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines and candidates from six corporations, however most but to be authorised. Decisions on AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are anticipated respectively in late January and in February.

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Last Update: Friday, 15 January 2021 KSA 19:05 – GMT 16:05